Resealable self-opening end unit

ABSTRACT

This disclosure relates to a resealable self-opening end unit comprising an end panel, a weakening line of a circular configuration in the end panel defining a tear out portion, a circular plastic member inboard of the weakening line and being secured to the tear out portion, and a metallic penetrating element carried by the annular plastic member aligned with a portion of the weakening line for rupturing the latter upon the application of a downwardly directed force such that the weakening line is totally severed, the end unit can be removed, and upon the dispensing of the product a container with which the end unit is associated can be resealed by the annular member which includes a radially outwardly directed peripheral lip for this purpose.

United States Patent [1 1 Cass [4 1 Oct. 21, 1975 RESEALABLE SELF-OPENING END UNIT [75] Inventor: Ann Elisabeth Cass, Justice, ill.

[73] Assignee: Continental Can Company, Inc.,

New York, NY.

[22] Filed: Nov. 4, 1974 [21] Appl. N0.: 520,889

[52] US. Cl. 220/260; 220/267; 220/277; 220/278; 222/81 [5 l] Int. Cl. B65D 41/02 [58] Field of Search 220/260, 267, 277, 278; 222/81, 541

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,187,9l8 6/1965 Moore 220/277 X 3,383,007 5/1968 Salamone 220/277 Primary Examiner-George T. Hall Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Diller, Brown, Ramik & Wight [57] ABSTRACT This disclosure relates to a resealable self-opening end unit comprising an end panel, a weakening line of a circular configuration in the end panel defining a tear out portion, a circular plastic member inboard of the weakening line and being secured to the tear out portion, and a metallic penetrating element carried by the annular plastic member aligned with a portion of the weakening line for rupturing the latter upon the application of a downwardly directed force such that the weakening line is totally severed, the end unit can be removed, and upon the dispensing of the product a container with which the end unit is associated can be resealed by the annular member which includes a radially outwardly directed peripheral lip for this purpose.

10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures U.S. Patent 0m. 21, 1975 (L I C 1 RESEALABLE SELF-OPENING END UNIT A primary object of this invention is to provide a novel easy opening end unit, particularly for so-called fullopening containers, although with modifications of an apparent nature the same may be employed to open and provide resealing features for partially opening end units.

The easy opening end unit of this invention includes an end panel having a circular weakening line defining a tear out portion and an annular member inboard thereof and secured to the tear out portion of the end unit. Means in the form of a metallic puncturing element is carried by the annular member and is aligned with a portion of the weakening line such that upon the application of a downwardly directly force thereagainst the weakening line is ruptured and the continued application of such force to the annular member results in the total rupture of the tear out portion from the remaining portion of the end panel whereupon by the subsequent removal of the torn out portion by simply manually lifting the annular member the contents of the associated container may be dispensed and subsequently the formed opening may be resealed by a radially outwardly directed peripheral sealing lip of the annular member.

With the above, and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claims and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

IN THE DRAWING:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a novel easy opening end unit constructed in accordance with this invention, and illustrates the manner in which the end unit has secured thereto an annular member which is depressable at a peripheral portion thereof to initiate the severance of a tear out portion of the end unit along a weakening line.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken generally along line 22 of FIG. 1, and more clearly illustrates the manner in which the tear out portion is fractured from a remaining portion of the end unit upon the depression of a metallic severing element carried by the annular member, which is preferably constructed of plastic material.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken generally along line 3-3 of FIG. 2, and illustratesthe manner in which adhesive is applied to bond the annular member to the tear out portion of the end unit.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view similar to FIG. 2, but illustrates the severence of the tear out portion from the remaining portion of the end unit and the manner in which these components may be manually removed.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the rupturing element carried by the annular member prior to being bent along parallel lines, and particularly illustrates a terminal rupturing nose thereof.

A novel easy opening end unit constructed in accordance with this invention is generally designated by the reference numeral (FIGS. 1 through 4), and is illustrated being secured to a conventional container C by a conventional double seam 11. The end unit 10 includes an end panel 12 which is folded and refolded upon itself to form a so-called safety bead or curl l3.

Slightly inboard of the bead 13 is a circular weakening line 14 which defines inboard thereof a circular tear out portion 15. However, in accordance with this invention the tear out portion 15 need not be totally removed from the container C but may instead be partially removed therefrom by simply making the weakening line 14 discontinuous such that, for example, at an end thereof diametrically opposite to an end which is initially fractured a web may be provided in the form of a fold line to permit the tear portion 15 to be pivoted or swung from its initial position to an out of the way position for dispensing products from the interior of the container C. In either event the purpose of the present invention is to achieve initial fracture of the tear out portion 15 and the partial or total removal thereof followed by subsequent reclosure.

Adhered to an upper surface (unnumbered) of the tear out portion 15 radially inboard of the weakening line 14 is a downwardly directed peripheral flange 16 of an annular plastic member 17 having a radially outwardly directed peripheral sealing lip 18. A pair of openings or slots 20, 21 which are generally parallel to each other (FIG. 3) are formed in the annular member 17 and they receive respectively depending legs 22, 23 of a metallic element 24 (FIG. 5) which has an intermediate portion 25 setoff from the legs 22, 23 by folds or bend lines 26, 27 respectively. The legs 22, 23 are simply inserted in a downward direction within the respective slots 20, 21, and the rupturing element 25 may be secured in this fashion simply by the frictional purchase between it and the walls of the slots, 20, 21, or suitable bonding agents may be employed, as might be found necessary or desirable.

In the assembled unruptured condition of the end unit 10, as is illustrated in solid outline in FIG. 2, a pointed terminal end or rupturing nose 28 of the leg or tongue 22 lies in overlying relationship to a portion (unnumbered) of the weakening line 14. Upon the application of a downwardly directed force, as is indicated by the dashed headed unnumbered arrow associated with the finger illustrated in phantom outline in FIG. 2, against the rupturing element 25 the nose 28 imparts a rupturing force contiguous a portion of the weakening line 14 lying therebeneath resulting in the rupture thereof and the downward deflection of an initial portion of the tear out portion 15, in the manner indicated in phantom outline in FIG. 2. After this initial downward rupturing force the annular member 17 may be continually subject to a downwardly directed force resulting in the eventual tear or rupture of the weakening line 14 and the severence of the tear out portion 15 from the remaining portion of the end unit 10. The latter is illustrated in FIG. 4, after which the most inboard peripheral edge (unnumbered) of the annular member 17 may be grasped and lifted, in the manner indicated by the unnumbered headed arrow in FIG. 4, to remove the annular member 17 along with the severed tear portion 15 from the container C to permit the eventual dispensing of a product therefrom.

In order to reclose the opening (unnumbered) formed by the severence along the weakening line 14 the annular member 17 with the end portion 15 still bonded thereto may be reinserted to the position shown in FIG. 4 whereat the sealing lip 18 forms a seal about the periphery of the annular member 17 with, of course, the product being precluded from being dispensed through the central opening (unnumbered) of the annular member 17 due to the end portion still being attached thereto.

While preferred forms and arrangements of parts have been shown in illustrating the invention, it is to be clearly understood that various changes in details and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure.

I claim:

1. An easy opening end unit comprising an end panel, a weakening line in said end panel defining a tear out portion at least partially removable therefrom, an arcuate member inboard of said weakening line and being secured to said tear out portion, and means carried by said arcuate member aligned with a portion of said weakening line for rupturing the latter upon the application of a downwardly directed force against said rupturing means in a direction toward said end panel.

2. The easy opening end unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said weakening line is endless.

3. The easy opening end unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said arcuate member is of an annular configuration.

4. The easy opening end unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said rupturing means is a metallic member.

5. The easy opening end unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said arcuate member is of an annular configuration, said weakening line is circular, and said annular member includes a radially outwardly directed sealing lip for overlyingly sealing the end unit outboard of said weakening line for reclosure purposes.

6. The easy opening end unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said rupturing means is a metallic member having a depending tongue terminating in a terminal edge aligned with said weakening line portion.

7. The easy opening end unit as defined in claim 2 wherein said arcuate member is of an annular configuration.

8. The easy opening end unit as defined in claim 2 wherein said rupturing means is a metallic member.

9. The easy opening end unit as defined in claim 3 wherein said rupturing means is a metallic member.

10. The easy opening end unit as defined in claim 5 wherein said rupturing means is a metallic member having a depending tongue terminating in a terminal edge aligned with said weakening line portion.

* i i l 

1. An easy opening end unit comprising an end panel, a weakening line in said end panel defining a tear out portion at least partially removable therefrom, an arcuate member inboard of said weakening line and being secured to said tear out portion, and means carried by said arcuate member aligned with a portion of said weakening line for rupturing the latter upon the application of a downwardly directed force against said rupturing means in a direction toward said end panel.
 2. The easy opening end unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said weakening line is endless.
 3. The easy opening end unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said arcuate member is of an annular configuration.
 4. The easy opening end unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said rupturing means is a metallic member.
 5. The easy opening end unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said arcuate member is of an annular configuration, said weakening line is circular, and said annular member includes a radially outwardly directed sealing lip for overlyingly sealing the end unit outboard of said weakening line for reclosure purposes.
 6. The easy opening end unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said rupturing means is a metallic member having a depending tongue terminating in a terminal edge aligned with said weakening line portion.
 7. The easy opening end unit as defined in claim 2 wherein said arcuate member is of an annular configuration.
 8. The easy opening end unit as defined in claim 2 wherein said rupturing means is a metallic member.
 9. The easy opening end unit as defined in claim 3 wherein said rupturing means is a metallic member.
 10. The easy opening end unit as defined in claim 5 wherein said rupturing means is a metallic member having a depending tongue terminating in a terminal edge aligned with said weakening line portion. 